The Carver and The Angel
There was an old carver, his hands gentle, yet strong
he'd whittle and carve, caressing his wood all day long
One day he sighed as he finished his best
an angel with trumpet ... now at last he could rest
He gazed and admired the beautiful grain
and rubbed his gnarled fingers to help ease the pain

The angel whispered, saying, "...Carver, come near
put the horn of my trumpet next to your ear"
You'll learn how eternal God's works truly are
how even my beauty began from afar
You brought forth my soul for the whole world to see
but long, long ago, I was just a young tree

I grew through the weather, so tender and new
trying to learn what it was I should do
The wind blew so strongly, I almost lost hold
but I learned to dig deeply, my roots learned to hold
I learned I must bend in strong gusts of wind
but never to break, or to quit, or give in

I'd often bask in sun light.... leaves swaying to and fro
thanking God in heaven for His beauty here below
In fact, as I look back I see... that so very much of time
was spent in ease and comfort, with no stress of any kind
Rain would fall from heaven, soaking me so well
my bark, leaves and roots, would drink it up and swell

Then the sun would start shining to dry up all the earth
as I stood there in wonder and pondered my worth
Storms and tornadoes, yes... these I have lived through
I'd scream through the torture, crying, Lord... what did I do?
I've been bent double, pulled... and sometimes very twisted
screaming in terror as my branches resisted

One terrible night when I had grown big and strong
when I thought I had conquered, a storm came along
After being torn up and stripped of each leaf
a lightening bolt struck me and filled me with grief
I lay there, torn and splintered for an endless eternity
thinking how strong I'd once been
...how could this happen to me?

Then one day you picked me up with your hands so gentle and warm
and through the cuts and sandings, new life you began to form
I often screamed and cried in pain, although you could not hear
and though I cursed your very name, your hand still dried each tear

I didn't know what I'd become, as I'd lain there on the ground
now you've made me what I thought I'd been
before I was lost... then found
Your hands have wrought a miracle, at last I see the light
living God's way may be hard ....
but it's certainly well worth the fight!

WHAT IF?
What if death
weren't really death
but a New Beginning,
with no end
Another door
that one steps through
to meet a waiting friend

There's be no cause for sadness then
maybe a tear,
but no great sorrow
It'd be just like another trip
when we know
we'll meet tomorrow

Death is, in fact, a passing
into life that's free from pain
A place where
there is no defeat
just freedom, love, and gain

A place where
we will learn of things
we now don't know
For learning is eternal
no matter where we go!

Book: RESPONSIBLE TEENS by AGE 5

STEPPING STONES or STUMBLING BLOCKS
Stepping stones or stumbling blocks
are always in our path
Stepping stones
can lead us on
stumbling blocks
cause wrath
Stepping stones
can pave the way
to new and better things
And as we skip along
the road our heart
takes flight and sings

Often times
a stepping stone
becomes a stumbling block
And slows down all our
progress or throws us
into shock
If you're stopped dead
in your tracks
by a block of huge
proportions
Perhaps it's just a
stepping stone mis-shapen
by contortions
The task is clear;
to conquer and not
to be held back
And turn that block
into a stone and kick
it off the track.

Now once again the path
is clear and we progress
in timely fashion
Over-coming obstacles can
fill our hearts with passion
Don't let ugly stumbling
blocks cut short your
staunch progression
You can subdue the worst
of foes with determination
as your obsession.

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